Shield Bug
?
Observed at Machakos Kenya. May 2017. Length is about 3 mm. It was found feeding on growth Desert Date (Balanites aegyptiaca). For scale notice it is resting in the palm of my hand.
Shield bugs possess a hardened exoskeleton shell that forms a turtle-like barrier protecting the dorsum of the insect. This may be a defense against ants whereby the insect can pull itself tight to a substrate with its short legs. These are plant feeders that use piercing-sucking mouth parts to draw liquid sap and nutrient. This example was found in abundance on a Balanites, also known as Simple-thorned greenthorn.